Awake in the World

May 2012 Archives

“It is amazing that something so beautiful will be destroyed. But then again, that is the story of our lives.” — Woman who watched the creation of a sand mandala Tibetan Buddhist monks spend days creating exquisite sand mandalas only […]

As much as mass media tries to give us a one-size-fits-all mold for appearances and ways of being in the world, the one thing that keeps the human race vibrant and beautiful is how each and every person is so […]

When I visited India, Sai Baba said, “Your true nature is Bliss.” This is really hard to keep sight of and understand when the heart is broken and filled with emotional pain and suffering. It seems like sometimes in periods […]

Memorial Day honors those who have lost their lives in national service. The ideals of service to others comes from deep wisdom traditions that extend across the world. Seva (in Sanskrit) or selfless service teaches high ideals that value others […]

Travelers, it is late. Life’s sun is going to set. During these brief days that you have strength, be quick and spare no effort of your wings. – Rumi There is no way to make it happen, but sometimes with […]

If you’re looking for a yoga-rock star with spiritual and environmental values, Michael Franti, singer, composer and lead of the group Michael Franti and Spearhead, sets the stage for an inspiring tale. In addition to being vegan, a Jivamukti yoga […]

Zero gains value when ONE precedes it. Moon is zero, sun is zero, world is zero. Only God is the Hero. Everything comes to naught in the absence of this Hero. A hero becomes zero if he forgets God. Have […]

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, for what is essential is invisible to the eye. Antoine de Saint-Expeury In a society where so much emphasis is put on physical appearance, we often forget to look […]

“For me, there is no real power without spiritual power. A power that comes from the core of who you are and reflects all that you were meant to be. A power that’s connected to the source of things.” – […]

While some people yearn to be fulfilled through companionship, others are finding that becoming their own best friend first is a way to find happiness and contentment. And then they get the icing on the cake too as a natural […]

“Patient and regular practice is the whole secret of spiritual realization. Do not be in a hurry in spiritual life. Do your utmost, and leave the rest to God.” – Swami Shivananda Most of us want our desires fulfilled now! […]

Sex and spirituality don’t often end up in the same sentence. Particularly in America attitudes about sex make it dirty and lust-related. There’s a pretension of being “free” and “open” which is disconnected from reality. Putting pictures of sexy women […]

Anchoring in one’s Self during the storms and trials is a way to stay centered during the rush of the day. In Native American traditions, the circle is a powerful symbol of wholeness. The Plains Indians used medicine wheels made […]

In every moment ask yourself, are you are going to choose ego, or you are going to choose Divine Love. – Mirabai Devi Is it possible to be lifted into the light by the company you keep or the thoughts […]

This morning at dawn I walked on Folly Beach while the sun rose pink and gold through the clouds. The gentle waves soothed and as I moved more deeply into my body pain and sorrow of recent losses rose and […]

Praying is a way to connect with the divine. In the traditional sense, in prayer we often ask for our heart’s desire. The heart yearns for many things and those yearnings bring lessons that help us to grow and understand […]

Goodness is the essence of all things. This may be difficult to perceive when we see pain and challenges around us. But many things unfold with divine complexity and we can only see a small piece of the picture. The […]

Discovering You're Enough with a Leap of PerceptionIf you’re feeling hemmed in and know that there’s much more to you than what you’re currently experiencing but don’t know quite how to access it, then “Leap of Perception,” by Penney Peirce deserves a read. Penney wrote about working with dreams and intuition long before working with eit

How Joy Finds Us: Interview with Mark NepoThe things we need arrive at the right time, and so it has been with Mark Nepo and his work. For those of us on a spiritual path, Mark’s writings possess the power to immediately move us into connection with a subtle and powerful awareness at the deepest, most soulful level. Though Mark Nepo‘s w

Hot Rituals to Celebrate the Summer SolsticeCan you feel the excitement in the air? The days are hot and sunny, and summer officially begins this week on June 21st. It’s the longest day and the shortest night in the Northern hemisphere. I love this day. In the South of France it’s celebrated by jumping over bonfires as a way to gain cour

When Spirit Moves Us Out of Our Comfort Zone to GrowStepping onto the spiritual path isn’t all peace and roses. It pushes us into a place that moves us beyond our usual comfort zone. As we attune to the highest within us and listen to inner guidance, that guidance sometimes pushes us to try new jobs, to stretch into new creative projects, and to so

When Life Races By Replace Stress and Anxiety with Gentle AwarenessEven though I’m a seasoned traveler I still get stressed before trips. It’s not big jitters, just a general anxiety about: 1) Did I pack everything? 2) Will my travel connections go smoothly? And 3) What about the unexpected? Movement brings agitation. Sitting in meditation is easiest for me for